Types of Pipe Fittings and Its Specifications
Pipe fittings are indispensable for all types of plumbing requirements at homes, industries and commercial centers. Fittings are mainly used to install, join and terminate pipes in specific locations. Most of these fittings are available in different shapes, sizes and designs to suit different purposes. There are more than thousands of fittings which are manufactured daily for various plumbing systems. Different types of pipe bending machines are also available in most of the online stores. Every type of tube requires specific types. All these types are inherent with a number of advantages which shall be discussed in the following sections of this article. Various Types of Pipe Fittings: As mentioned there are various types of fittings from www.pipefitting86.com and some of the most common types include unions, caps, couplings, adapters and plugs. These pipe fittings are mainly used to extend or terminate the ends of the tubes. Two or more tubes or pipes can be connected with the help of crosses, tees, wyes and side-inlet elbows. There are fittings which are used to change the direction of the tubes which are known as elbows. The size of the tubes can be altered with the help of certain fittings known as couplings, reducers, adapters and bushings. Different types of materials from Weldolets are used to manufacture fittings. Some of the fittings are manufactured with cast iron, steel, aluminum, plastic, brass and copper. Different types of fittings have its own pros and cons based on the type of materials used. Steel pipe fittings are strong and mainly known for its unique strength and durability. Brass fittings are also strong and durable. Copper are popular for its non- corrosive features. It is mainly used on tubes which tend to be wet and submerged. Aluminum fittings are also resistant to corrosion. It is light-weighted and used for most of the domestic purposes. Plastic fittings are also available in most of the hardware stores. It is inexpensive compared to the other types of fittings. Plastic tubes are used in water supply and drainage systems. Main Functions: The main purposes of these fittings include the following: * Connecting tubes to one another * Closing or terminating a tube * Altering the direction of the flow of liquid * Connecting the tubes to another plumbing apparatus As there are different types of fittings available in most of the online and offline stores, it is necessary to identify the purpose and need for these fittings before purchasing it. It is important to consider the type of pipe fittings before purchasing it. Some of the fittings are threaded fittings whereas some of the fittings can be slipped on to the tubes. The fittings should be made of the same materials as the tubes. Steel tubes require steel fittings and plastic fittings are ideal for plastic tubes. The fittings are available in different thicknesses. So it is necessary to consider the thickness before buying appropriate fittings. Most of the fittings have certain codes or standards, so it is important to check these codes before purchasing these plumbing accessories.